Mitchell Young guilty of murder in Cipriano baseball bat beating case

The Oakland Press/VAUGHN GURGANIAN
Attorney Michael McCarthy talks with Mitchell Young's grandmother outside of the Oakland County Courthouse after a jury found Mitchell Young guilty of first-degree murder in the Cipriano death/beatings, pictured Friday.

The Oakland Press/VAUGHN GURGANIAN
Michael McCarthy, attorney for Mitchell Young, talks with the media outside of the Oakland County Courthouse after a jury found Young guilty of first-degree murder in the Cipriano death/beatings, pictured Friday.

An Oakland County Circuit Court jury has found Mitchell Young guilty on all five counts in an attack on the home of a Farmington Hills family last April.

Young, 21, was convicted on charges of first-degree murder, felony murder, armed robbery and two counts of assault with intent to murder.

The jury deliberated for about an hour and 45 minutes before submitting the verdict.

The charges stem from an attack in the Cipriano family home in the early morning hours of April 16, 2012, in which Robert Cipriano was killed with a baseball bat.

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His wife, Rose, and son, Salvatore, were severely injured in the attack.

Cipriano's adopted son, Tucker Cipriano, was a co-defendant in the case but pleaded no contest to felony murder before the trial began.

Members of the Cipriano family who were in attendance were led out a side entrance of the courtroom to avoid observers, but they shared their thoughts through a press release from the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office.

"We are glad the trial is over and that our family did not have to re-live the horrible experience by having to testify in it," Robert Cipriano's brother Ron stated.

"We believe the legal process worked the way it should have with the facts of the case presented. The privacy and dignity of my brother's family was respected and honored. No verdict could bring closure to this for our family; it is a part of our everyday reality. There is never closure in a situation like this. It merely closes this chapter and lets us focus everything we have on the continued healing of our family physically, mentally and emotionally."

Ron Cipriano thanked several people, including police, prosecutors and Cindy Stanton of the Office of Victim Services.

"It has been a long and difficult 14 months for our family and we would not have made it through so far without the tremendous support of so many people," he said.

"Our family has been through a horrible tragedy that we will live with for the rest of our lives. At the end of the day, Bob -- our brother, father, neighbor, colleague, coach and friend -- is still gone from our lives forever. His absence can never be replaced and no trial will ever change that."

The release also included a few comments from the prosecutor's office.

"We can all breathe a sigh of relief that these two convicted brutal killers will NEVER be able to prey upon any other members of the public," the release states.

"Murder is not a private or family matter, it is a matter of public safety. The two convicted defendants have demonstrated with their utter contempt for human life that if they ever get out of prison there would be more victims. Today, they have been held accountable for what they did and they will never, ever, have the opportunity to be free.

On the other side was defense attorney Mike McCarthy, who said he was "disappointed that the jury spoke as quickly as they did."

"I thought we made some good points. Mr. Young is disappointed in the outcome, but this isn't the last step for him."

Young has the right to an appeal. As he was being led out of the courtroom, he turned toward his grandmother and said, softly, "I love you too, Grandma."

"(Young's grandmother) is taking it as well as she can," McCarthy said.

"It's disappointing news to her and the entire family. She has been in the presence of the family in the courtroom, but there are a number of other family members who have quite a bit of concern about Mitchell and were supportive of him."

Those family members avoided the courtroom because of the media attention.

"It was too upsetting for them to sit though that and be the object of cameras and all that," McCarthy said.

"It wasn't out of any lack of love and concern or support."

McCarthy said his client took the verdict "stoically."

"He stood up straight and walked out maintaining his dignity," McCarthy said.

"I think it's the best you can ask for, anyway, under the circumstances."

Sentencing is set for 1:30 p.m. July 24 for both Cipriano and Young. Both men will spend the rest of their lives in prison.